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Orchestra

Francisco Rotundo

Francisco Rotundo led a tango orchestra in Buenos Aires that debuted at the carnival dances of Club San José de Flores in 1945 and featured singers including Carlos Roldán, Floreal Ruiz, Enrique Campos, Julio Sosa and Jorge Durán [1]. He disbanded the orchestra in 1957, after being barred for his Peronist views, and in the late 1960s formed a new orchestra for his venue La Casa de Rotundo [1][2].

Francisco Rotundo was born on 4 November 1919 [3]. In 1944 he won an orchestra contest at the Palermo Palace salon [1]. The following year, 1945, he debuted his orchestra at the carnival dances of Club San José de Flores, where it was presented by the poet Carlos Waiss [1].

Through the late 1940s and early 1950s the orchestra hired a series of singers. These included Horacio Quintana and Aldo Calderón, Carlos Roldán from Montevideo, Mario Corrales, Floreal Ruiz from the orchestra of Aníbal Troilo, Enrique Campos, Julio Sosa and Jorge Durán [1]. Sources differ on whether Floreal Ruiz joined in 1948 or in 1949 [1][4][5].

The orchestra recorded for Odeon, beginning with Seguí mi consejo, sung by Carlos Roldán, in December 1948 [1]. In 1957 Rotundo disbanded the orchestra, barred for his Peronist views, and returned to the family paper business [2]. In the late 1960s he opened La Casa de Rotundo in Liniers with a new orchestra; the venue later moved to Villa Luro [1]. Rotundo died in Buenos Aires on 26 September 1997 [2].

History

Formation (1944–1945)

In 1944 Rotundo won an orchestra contest at the Palermo Palace salon [1]. His orchestra debuted in 1945 at the carnival dances of Club San José de Flores, presented by the poet Carlos Waiss [1]. A 1945 claim from the same source records Rotundo as leader of the orchestra [1].

Café Nacional and the late 1940s (1947–1949)

In 1947 the orchestra played a successful season at the Café Nacional on Corrientes, with Horacio Quintana and Aldo Calderón as singers [1]. In 1948 Rotundo brought the singer Carlos Roldán from Montevideo [1]. In October 1948 the orchestra was performing in what one biography calls "los mejores cabarets" [1].

The arrival of Floreal Ruiz, who came from the orchestra of Aníbal Troilo, is dated differently. One account places it in 1949, stating that Rotundo hired Mario Corrales in March of that year and Floreal Ruiz, who debuted in October [1]. Other claims place Ruiz's joining in October 1948 [1] or in 1948 [4], and a calendar records Ruiz singing with the orchestra on 14 December 1948 [5]. The sources therefore differ on the date, and this article does not resolve the question.

The 1950s (1952–1957)

In 1952 Rotundo hired Enrique Campos, whose duet with Floreal Ruiz on El viejo vals sold strongly [1]. In 1953 Julio Sosa joined after leaving the Francini-Pontier orchestra and stayed about two years [1]. Jorge Durán joined at the end of 1955 and recorded two songs with the orchestra that December [1].

In 1957 Rotundo disbanded the orchestra. One source states that he had been barred for his Peronist views, and that he then returned to the family paper business [2].

Later years

In the late 1960s Rotundo opened La Casa de Rotundo in the Liniers neighbourhood with a new orchestra; the venue later moved to Villa Luro [1]. He died in Buenos Aires on 26 September 1997 [2].

Singers

The singers documented with the orchestra, in the order the sources give, were [1]:

  • Horacio Quintana and Aldo Calderón, at the Café Nacional in 1947 [1]
  • Carlos Roldán, brought from Montevideo in 1948 [1]
  • Mario Corrales, hired in March 1949 [1]
  • Floreal Ruiz, formerly with Aníbal Troilo, joining in 1948 or 1949 depending on the source [1][4][5]
  • Enrique Campos, hired in 1952 [1]
  • Julio Sosa, from 1953 for about two years, after leaving Francini-Pontier [1]
  • Jorge Durán, from the end of 1955 [1]

Recordings

The orchestra recorded for Odeon. Its documented first recording was Seguí mi consejo with Carlos Roldán, in December 1948 [1]. A calendar entry records Floreal Ruiz singing with the orchestra on 14 December 1948 [5].

In 1952 the duet of Enrique Campos and Floreal Ruiz on El viejo vals sold strongly [1]. In December 1955 Jorge Durán recorded two songs with the orchestra; the source does not name them [1].

References

How Tangopedia works

  1. 1.Biografía de Francisco Rotundo · todotango.com
  2. 2.Francisco Rotundo · en.wikipedia.org
  3. 3.Tangopedia staff · tangopedia.app
  4. 4.Biografía de Floreal Ruiz · todotango.com
  5. 5.Calendar - Argentine Tango - tango.info · tango.info

Most danced

From TangoTube dances

  1. El viejo valsFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz, Enrique Campos1951
  2. Un infiernoFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz1953
  3. Para florearseFrancisco Rotundo1954
  4. Eras como la florFrancisco Rotundo · Julio Sosa1955
  5. Al fin de cuentasFrancisco Rotundo · Enrique Campos1957
  6. No es más que yoFrancisco Rotundo · Enrique Campos1952
  7. La casita esta tristeFrancisco Rotundo · Julio Sosa1953
  8. SurFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz1948
  9. Esclavas blancasFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz1950
  10. Bien PulentaFrancisco Rotundo · Carlos Roldán1950
  11. Alma de locaFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz1952
  12. Justo el 31Francisco Rotundo · Julio Sosa1953
Data: recordings, facts and sources

Also: its leader, Francisco Rotundo

Recordings by year

Source: TangoCloud catalogue

19481957

1948: 1, 1949: 8, 1950: 6, 1951: 4, 1952: 6, 1953: 9, 1954: 8, 1955: 10, 1956: 6, 1957: 6

Singers over the years

First to last recording together · source: TangoCloud catalogue · tap a bar for the takes · Every singer and orchestra

19481957
  1. Floreal Ruiz1948–1955 · 27
  2. Enrique Campos1951–1957 · 11
  3. Julio Sosa1953–1955 · 11
  4. Carlos Roldán1949–1950 · 4
  5. Alfredo Del Rio1957 · 3
  6. Jorge Durán1955 · 2
  7. Ricardo Argentino1956 · 1
  8. Maria de la Fuente1957 · 1

Singers

Line-up by year

The musicians the sources place in the orchestra each year. Someone with no end year is shown only in the year they joined.

  1. 1es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Rotundo

Won1

Won Wins an orchestra contest at the Palermo Palace salon.1944Single source

Notes15

Debuts his orchestra at the carnival dances of Club San José de Flores, presented by the poet Carlos Waiss.1945Single source

Plays a successful season at the Café Nacional on Corrientes, with Horacio Quintana and Aldo Calderón singing.1947Single source

Brings singer Carlos Roldán from Montevideo; records Seguí mi consejo with him for Odeon in December.1948Single source

Hires Mario Corrales in March and Floreal Ruiz from Aníbal Troilo, who debuts in October.1949Single source

Hires Enrique Campos; his duet with Floreal Ruiz on El viejo vals sells strongly.1952Single source

Julio Sosa joins after leaving Francini-Pontier and stays about two years.1953Single source

Jorge Durán joins at the end of the year and records two songs in December.1955Single source

Disbands the orchestra, barred for his Peronist views, and returns to the family paper business.1957Single source

In the late 1960s opens La Casa de Rotundo in Liniers, later moved to Villa Luro, with a new orchestra.1968Single source

Dies in Buenos Aires.Sep 26, 1997Single source

Rotundo, a rich man whose wife was a senator and who did well under Perón, poached Floreal Ruiz from Troilo with a transfer fee of about 100,000 pesos (part going to compensate the record company) and a car as a signing-on bonus.Single source

Rotundo's orchestra is not as complex as Troilo's or Pugliese's: it bangs out the beat with little colour, and quality jumps whenever Ruiz sings, like Canaro with Maida or Charlo.Single source

Release “El viejo vals” (1995) on Maestros del Tango Argentino BMT 004, ES1995source

Release “Sentir el tango: Yo soy aquel muchacho” (1998) on Altaya T.A. 0281998source

Release “Sentir el tango: Por la vuelta” (1998) on Altaya T.A. 0381998source

Leader1

Led by Francisco Rotundo1945Single source

Joined2

Floreal Ruiz — joined Francisco Rotundo1948, Oct 1948, 1949Single source

Carlos Roldán — joined Francisco Rotundo1948Single source

Performed at1

Performed at los mejores cabaretsOct 1948Single source

Sang with16

Floreal Ruiz — sang with Francisco RotundoDec 14, 1948, 1949–1955, Dec 10, 1951Supported · 2

Enrique Campos — sang with Francisco RotundoMar 1947, Dec 10, 1951, Oct 23, 1952Supported · 2

Julio Sosa — sang with Francisco Rotundo1953–1955Supported · 2

Carlos Roldán — sang with Francisco RotundoDec 29, 1950Single source

Alfredo Del Rio — sang with Francisco Rotundo1956–1957, Jun 6, 1957Single source

Carlos Roldán — sang with Francisco Rotundo1948Single source

Mario Corrales — sang with Francisco RotundoMar 1949Single source

Floreal Ruiz — sang with Francisco RotundoOct 1949–Jan 1957Single source

Enrique Campos — sang with Francisco Rotundo1952Single source

Julio Sosa — sang with Francisco Rotundo1953–1955Single source

Jorge Durán — sang with Francisco Rotundo1955Single source

Floreal Ruiz — sang with Francisco Rotundo1949Single source

Enrique Campos — sang with Francisco RotundoMar 1947, Aug 10, 1951Single source

Jorge Durán — sang with Francisco Rotundo1955Single source

Mario Pomar — sang with Francisco Rotundo1946Single source

Aldo Calderón — sang with Francisco RotundoSingle source

Leader born1

Its leader was born on November 4, 1919Supported · 2

Left1

Alfredo Del Rio — left Francisco Rotundo1957Single source

In other catalogues1

tango.info · FrancRotunSingle source

Leader's birthplace1

Its leader was born in Buenos AiresNov 4, 1919Single source

Leader died1

Its leader died on September 26, 1997Single source

Leader's place of death1

Its leader died in Buenos AiresSep 26, 1997Single source

Played in1

Luis Stazo — played in Francisco Rotundo1947Single source

Known for1

Is known for Un infiernoSingle source

Listen

  1. SurFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz1948
  2. Mi noche tristeFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz1949
  3. Agüelita qué hora sonFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz1949
  4. El polleroFrancisco Rotundo · Carlos Roldán · no clip yet1949
  5. Mis deliriosFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz1949
  6. Una copa nada másFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz · no clip yet1949
  7. Al pie de la Santa CruzFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz · no clip yet1949
  8. Viejo smokingFrancisco Rotundo · Carlos Roldán · no clip yet1949
  9. Primero élFrancisco Rotundo · Carlos Roldán · no clip yet1949
  10. Entre sueñosFrancisco Rotundo · no clip yet1950
  11. Aquel tapado de armiñoFrancisco Rotundo · Floreal Ruiz1950
  12. MarejadaFrancisco Rotundo1950

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